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Miggy aggravates groin injury; status unclear

Miggy aggravates groin injury; status unclear

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By Jason Beck
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MLB.com |

DETROIT -- The Tigers' incredible comeback win Saturday night gives them a chance to clinch their third consecutive division title as soon as Sunday. If they do, they could soon have a decision to make on resting Miguel Cabrera, who left Saturday's game in the 10th inning with soreness in his groin area.

It's the same injury that sidelined him earlier this month, and the latest setback in an injury-plagued second half for the American League batting leader. Just how bad this latest aggravation is remains to be seen.

Cabrera wasn't sure. He wanted to wait until he returns to Comerica Park on Sunday morning before determining the severity.

"It's a little sore," said Cabrera, who finished 3-for-4 at the plate. "We'll see how it feels tomorrow."

Between groin, abdominal and hip flexor issues, Cabrera has had limited mobility since the end of June. He had been looking healthier this week, dancing in the clubhouse on occasion and moving around better in the field. His slow turn around first base on his fourth-inning single to the right-field corner, however, was a bad sign.

Cabrera tried to stretch the hit into a double, but right fielder and former Tiger Avisail Garcia easily threw him out at second. When Cabrera came back up to bat in the seventh, he was noticeably slow out of the batter's box on a groundout to third, then was seen hunched over at third base for the top of the eighth inning.

Cabrera singled and scored from second in the top of the ninth, then walked in his second at-bat of the inning. When Donnie Veal retired Prince Fielder to send the game into extra innings, however, Don Kelly took Cabrera's place at third.

"I think he irritated it a little bit," Leyland said.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.